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Category Archives: Local History
Henry Farnam’s Life and Work Near the Mississippi
The name Henry Farnam is not unheard of in this area. Mr. Farnam’s legacy and his influence was felt in the world of railroads, particularly the ever-growing network of railway lines spreading from the East. He was born in Scipio, … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Dick Stahl, First Railroad Bridge, Grand Excursion, Henry Farnam, River Action
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Women’s Entrepreneurial Spirit: The Home Cooking Company
On March 15, 1894 a unique business filed for incorporation in Scott County, Iowa. Named the Home Cooking Company its intentions were for the manufacturing and supplying of food and confectionery. Stocks were listed at $20,000 with $1,500 to start … Continue reading
Iowa History Month: Historical and Literary Map of Iowa
March has been declared Iowa History Month by Governor Kim Reynolds. Across the state of Iowans are encouraged to discover their state’s rich history through materials and stories collected by the many cultural and historical organizations. In celebration of Iowa’s … Continue reading
The History of the Book Travels to Davenport
The Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center offers the Traveling History of the Book Exhibit for Quad Citizens’ viewing and hands-on learning fun from March 1 to April 13. The exhibit features materials capturing the history of the book throughout different periods … Continue reading
Davenporters of Note: Herman J. Zeuch and the Indian River Farms Company
[1] We made it through February 2019! Does the current weather have you dreaming of warmer climes? Perhaps Davenport businessman Herman J. Zeuch felt the same in 1912 when he purchased 55,000 acres of land on the east coast of … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Florida, Herman J. Zeuch, Indian River Farms Company, Vero Beach
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Davenporters of Note: Leedon Hart
Leedon Hart was born on March 4, 1838 in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee, to Anderson Hart and Parthena Jefferson. During the Civil War, he served in Company B, 60th Infantry of the U.S. Colored Troops. He married Juda Hart, his … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged African-Americans, Leedon Hart, Oakdale Memorial Gardens, U.S. Colored Troops, William Leedon
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#ColorOurCollections Coloring Book & The Work of Patrick J. Costello
This week marks the always anticipated #ColorOurCollections Week started by The New York Academy of Medicine Library in 2016. #ColorOurCollections is a week-long coloring fest event at the beginning of February that supports the exploration and connections between libraries, their … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged coloring book, Coloring Our Collections, Patrick Costello
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Cholera Scare of 1873
Cholera was not a new visitor to Davenport in 1873. A few short years before in 1866, Davenport suffered from an outbreak of cholera. The spread of cholera, as mysterious as it was at the time, has a simple explanation: … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged 1873, cholera, Davenport City Council Papers, Disease, sanitation
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The Old/Original Antoine LeClaire Homestead/Residence/Treaty House/Railroad Depot
Researching the home built by Antoine LeClaire on the site of the Black Hawk Treaty is quite a challenge. There have been at least 3 different buildings in Davenport called “The LeClaire House.” There’s LeClaire’s 2nd home, the mansion built … Continue reading
40th Anniversary of the Blizzard of January 1979
This blog could easily have been titled “40th Anniversary of the Winter of 1978 – 1979: The winter that would not end“. We are sure if felt that way to many people in the Quad Cities. In 2009, we wrote … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Blizzard, Blizzard of 1979, January 1979, Record Weather, weather, Winter
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